Cover (2007)

That was an excellent one.

Save your money for something good and enjoyable

In other words,this film is a surreal ride.

There's a more than satisfactory amount of boom-boom in the movie's trim running time.

"Cover" directed by Bill Duke is a poignant film that highlights the cause and effects of infidelity, betrayal and deception. Aunjanue Ellis does very well as the religious devoted mother and housewife who soon becomes distraught after discovering her husband's double life. Not to mention, the radiant and beautiful Vivica A. Fox as the supportive, best friend. The directing is more than suitable for the film as Bill Duke keeps the viewer guessing with his intelligent and crafty use of mystery and suspense. In addition, the film has a clever storyline that's strong enough to keep one glued to their seat. Most importantly, the storyline is well thought out ,unpredictable and original. "Cover also includes performances by Leon as the seductive and charismatic Ryan Chambers, Roger Guenveur Smith("Do The Right Thing"), Paula Jai Parker("Friday"), Louis Gossett Jr, and Clifton Davis from the 1970s TV sitcom "That's My Mama". I highly recommend this film. 8/10.

This film sheds light on things that even I as a gay man could not clearly see before. Sure you hear about it all but actually seeing it is another thing altogether. Whoever did the editing and/ or whoever approved of the film's editing needs to be seated in a dark room and made to watch this film repeatedly. It is rushed to say the least. Three things were lost on me competently until I began reading the comments here. Two are still a mystery. Someone here also commented on the make-up and I would have to agree. Halloween is the only day of the year that this film's make-up artist should be allowed access to a brush. The murder sub-plot was somewhat clever and might have worked better if played a little differently. I personally could have done without the whole Christian woman bit. And before I go off on a tangent about the storyline, I need to first remind myself that heterosexual men cheat on their mistresses every day. It's not enough that they have one on the side; they need two, three or perhaps more. Because this guy just so happens to sleep with men really should not add any weight but he goes for the non-acceptance card. So why 10 stars? That "scene" in the restaurant paired with the video confession scenes are worth 10 stars, I know that there are cruel, heartless, mentally unstable people out there but I think, not me. Why not me? And if everybody is clueless as to who is zooming who then it may not be the person that I am currently with but someone that they had been with days, weeks, months or years prior. Sure, the red and black posters hanging in the STD clinic reminds us of this. Sure, the counselors will reinforce what we read on these posters. There's just something about seeing it all go down that just hits home. And yes I know it is just a movie. I also know that in the 90 minutes it took to watch this movie, that kind of evil had to have happened at least 3x… in NYC alone.Before some white person gets on a soapbox here, I want to add that this is going on with white gay men as well. Unfortunately, I have been there. Try being naked in a white man's conjugal bed with wife out of town and him bidding her goodnight over the telephone. And this was nearly ten years ago… long before DL was glam. No one can be trusted!

Church going house wife is arrested and charged with murder. Things become complicated as her neat little life begins to unravel and when its clear the Assistant District Attorney prosecuting the case doesn't care if she's guilty since he's looking to win the up coming election. Weakest film directed by actor turned director Bill Duke. Feeling more like a Tyler Perry wannabe thriller then the realistic and often gritty films that Duke usually turns out, this film seems more intent on being about something other than the mystery at hand. The film has a weak script which has too many "dark secrets" that the good cast can't really turn into anything truly worth watching. It just misses...and whats worse you can see it going whizzing by...

Bill Duke's "Cover" is like an urbanized, African-American version of "Brokeback Mountain" - only this time told from the viewpoint of the initially clueless spouse rather than the two male lovers. Aunjanue Ellis plays a deeply religious woman whose life and marriage fall apart when she discovers that her husband (Razaaq Adoti) is actually a closeted homosexual. This leads to a great deal of emotional trauma for both the wife and the husband - as well as to a patently absurd and wholly unnecessary murder subplot that's used to frame the story.There's no question that this is a well-meaning and well-intentioned film, but its attempt to deal honestly with a serious social issue all too often falls victim to slickery and overwrought melodramatics. Many a scene will have you rolling your eyes in incredulity and disbelief, even while conceding that some of the points the movie is making are indeed insightful and valid. And, commendably, the movie does give a fair hearing to each of its genuinely torn and conflicted characters. But an overall air of amateurishness - both in the performances (even from such acting stalwarts as Louis Gossett Jr. and "Amen"'s Clifton Davis) and in the direction - keeps it from having the impact it clearly wishes to have.All in all, a missed opportunity.